Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body biasing systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body-biasing systems. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable power condition of a computer system comprising a microprocessor is determined. Body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition is accessed. A voltage supply coupled to a body terminal of the microprocessor is commanded to generate a voltage corresponding to the body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition.

1. A computer system comprising:
 a plurality of data storage locations comprising body biasing voltage information corresponding to a plurality of power modes of said computer system, wherein at least one of said plurality of power modes enables operation of said computer svstem at at least two different clock frequencies; 
 a voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for circuitry of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information; and 
 circuitry to selectively couple said body biasing voltage information from one of said plurality of data storage locations corresponding to one of said plurality of power modes to said voltage supply. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said circuitry of said computer system comprises a microprocessor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein said voltage supply comprises a charge pump. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein said circuitry to selectively couple comprises a multiplexer. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein said multiplexer is controlled by a power state signal generated by a southbridge. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of default information to initialize said plurality of data storage locations. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of data storage locations is modifiable by a processor of said computer system. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein said circuitry to selectively couple is operable when said computer system is unable to execute software instructions. 
     
     
       9. A method for determining a body biasing voltage applied to a microprocessor comprising:
 receiving a command to change to a different power condition of a computer system comprising said microprocessor, wherein said different power condition comprises a different said microprocessor clock frequency and/or a different said microprocessor operating voltage; 
 accessing body biasing voltage information corresponding to said power condition; and 
 commanding a voltage supply coupled to a body terminal of said microprocessor to generate a voltage corresponding to said body biasing voltage information corresponding to said power condition. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein said determining comprises accessing a plurality of signal lines from a southbridge. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said accessing comprises at least one of said plurality of signal lines controlling a multiplexer. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein said body biasing voltage information is modifiable by said computer system. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  operable when said microprocessor is unable to execute software instructions. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  wherein said commanding comprises selectively coupling said body biasing voltage information to said voltage supply. 
     
     
       15. An integrated circuit comprising:
 a plurality of registers comprising body biasing voltage information corresponding to a plurality of power modes of a computer system, wherein at least one of said plurality of power modes enables operation of said computer svstem at at least two different clock frequencies; 
 a first voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for p-type devices of a microprocessor of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information; 
 a second voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for n-type devices of said microprocessor of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information; and 
 circuitry to selectively couple said body biasing voltage information from one of said plurality of registers corresponding to one of said plurality of power modes to said first and second voltage supplies. 
 
     
     
       16. The integrated circuit of  claim 15  wherein said first voltage supply comprises a charge pump. 
     
     
       17. The integrated circuit of  claim 15  wherein said circuitry to selectively couple comprises a multiplexer. 
     
     
       18. The integrated circuit of  claim 17  wherein said multiplexer is controlled by a power state signal generated by a southbridge. 
     
     
       19. The integrated circuit of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of default information to initialize said plurality of registers. 
     
     
       20. The integrated circuit of  claim 15  wherein said plurality of registers is modifiable by said microprocessor. 
     
     
       21. The integrated circuit of  claim 15  wherein said circuitry to selectively couple is operable when said microprocessor is unable to execute software instructions.